Matt's Passions

Matt's Bio

Familiarity:
I've used it several times

This is a decent shoe, but sizing might be tricky, depending on what you're after. Better for face and bouldering. Heel cup is good, so you can heel hook if you size them tightly enough. I would not recommend them for crack climbing (like, for desert splitters). I looked at these as an alternative to 5.10 Moccasyms. Cobras have a more pointed toe box, so that it is highly unlikely your toes will lie flat. I don't have Morton's toe; regardless, 2nd and 3rd toes will not lie flat, even in larger/looser sizes.

Sizing: I wear a street size US 9 mens shoe. I have a size 40 lace Katana, which are sized for agressive face climbing and bouldering. Toes are curled over, so I can't stick them in a crack (or, it's excruciating to use them for crack). I have a size 41 TC Pro, which is sized for all-day comfort and crack climbing (toes are flat). A size 41 Cobra puts my toes in the same position as the size 40 Katanas.

these are great trail runners on dry or damp, hard packed trails. I found them to be very comfortable for long runs and steep hikes. Traction is very good in these conditions, as well as across boulder and rock fields where the rock has good friction (basalt, granite, etc). However, when it gets muddy (as it tends to do in the Cascades), the tread on these shoes just does not cut it. I have also found them to be really poor on slick granite (like a polished slab), and on trails with loose gravel. If you run on this sort of stuff, you'd be better off with a more aggressive tread, maybe the C-Lite.